At Tulane University, the environment is much more than a topic you study in class.
It's bigger than any one department, group, or program.
We're trying to be conscious of the environment in every aspect of university life and work.

Building Energy Kiosk

Our building energy use is one of our largest impacts on the environment. This new pilot program makes it easy for students to access energy use data for Tulane buildings, beginning with Wall Residential College and Greenbaum House.

The website tracks the use of electricity, chilled water (cooling) and steam (heating), shows the overall impact on climate change,and provides green tips and building comparisons. We hope that the site helps demystify building energy use and makes data available for student research projects and energy conservation initiatives.

LEED Green Building

Tulane University follows the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standard in new construction projects and major renovations. Tulane’s green building efforts began with the construction of the Israel Environmental Sciences Building and the accompanying renovation of Alcee Fortier Hall in 1999. The renovation of Dinwiddie Hall is the first campus green building project guided by the U.S. Green Building Council’s “LEED” standard. The building was certified LEED Gold in March 2011. On the Uptown campus, Weatherhead Hall, Tulane’s new residence hall, and the Hertz Center, the practice facility for the basketball and volleyball teams, are certified LEED Gold. On the Downtown campus, lab renovations in the J. Bennett Johnston building will be certified under LEED’s Commercial Interiors standard. In 2011, the university adopted Green Building Design and Construction Standards and Guidelines for all significant university construction and renovation projects. Read more here...

Howard Tilton Library Energy Improvements

While existing ceilings are open during the Howard Tilton library addition and renovations, occupancy sensors are being installed to control lights in the stacks. The lights above the books will now turn on when someone enters the aisle looking for a book. They will turn off when the aisle is unoccupied. Based on a research study by School of Architecture students, it is estimated that these lights will now be on only 5%of the time—when they used to be constantly illuminated! It’s estimated that this improvement will save 538,740 kWh of electricity use a year. That’s the equivalent impact on climate change as not burning 41,801 gallons of gas, or 9,525 tree seedlings growing for 10 years according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator.

Recycling Stations

On the uptown campus, Tulane recycles paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and electronics. Residence halls have recycling rooms or outside collection centers, office and classroom buildings have paper collection, and there are recycling bins for plastic bottles and aluminum cans on the outside grounds and inside campus buildings. Single Stream recycling is now available in the Health Sciences Center buildings. All paper, plastic bottles, metal and aluminum cans, and paperboard (i.e. cereal boxes) can be placed together in recycling bins. Recycling bins in shared and public spaces, such as classrooms, copy and break rooms, will be emptied by custodians. There is no desk side service provided; individuals should bring their recyclables to the larger bins in copy rooms, break rooms, or to recycling collection toters.

Health Sciences Campus Recycling

On the downtown campus, Tulane's Building Services handles recycling. Single Stream recycling is now available in the Health Sciences Center buildings. All paper, plastic bottles, metal and aluminum cans, and paperboard (i.e. cereal boxes) can be placed together in recycling bins. Recycling bins in shared and public spaces, such as classrooms, copy and break rooms, will be emptied by custodians. There is no desk side service provided; individuals should bring their recyclables to the larger bins in copy rooms, break rooms, or to recycling collection toters.